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Weeds growing in newly seeded grass

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  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited November 2022
    The worst weed in lawns is the wrong grass.  TRy to spot annual meadow grass soon and dig that out.  Leave the other weeds for the mowing.

    I think it is monocots, not just grasses, that resist lawn weedkiller.  Violets and Mind-your-own-business resist my weedkilling.  Clovers take a double effort, but I try to encourage the small flowering species.

    I have an antique weed-puller that is a joy to use.  I move daisies to a wilder part of the lawn.  I also try to encorage Lady's smock, but as soon as I move it to the meadowy part, the longer grass chokes it off.  It also seems to resist lawn weedkiller.


     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • JLodgeJLodge Posts: 26
    Thank you for all of the replies, I don't think that the weeds were present in the seed as the distribution is not uniform and there are some growing in places that weren't seeded at all. When is best for the first mow, 2 or 3 months after seeding? Is it worth adding extra seed now for the patchy bits or waiting until spring? I'll get some seaweed for the yellow bits, its had nothing since seeding.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I would only seed if you think it's likely to germinate, otherwise you'd wait until spring. That will depend on your conditions, and whether the soil and climate are warm enough.
    I still wouldn't feed - not at this time of year, but it's up to you.  :)
    Mowing for the first time would usually be when the grass is around three or four inches, but again, it depends on the state of your soil. I wouldn't want to be on new grass here at this time of year as the ground is saturated, and it would do more harm than good [although I wouldn't be sowing grass after about late August here anyway] but if your ground isn't like that, you might be able to give it a light trim soon. 
    Don't take more than a tiny amount of though - you'll just weaken it, especially at this time of year when it won't grow much now. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JLodgeJLodge Posts: 26
    Fairygirl said:
    I would only seed if you think it's likely to germinate, otherwise you'd wait until spring. That will depend on your conditions, and whether the soil and climate are warm enough.
    I still wouldn't feed - not at this time of year, but it's up to you.  :)
    Mowing for the first time would usually be when the grass is around three or four inches, but again, it depends on the state of your soil. I wouldn't want to be on new grass here at this time of year as the ground is saturated, and it would do more harm than good [although I wouldn't be sowing grass after about late August here anyway] but if your ground isn't like that, you might be able to give it a light trim soon. 
    Don't take more than a tiny amount of though - you'll just weaken it, especially at this time of year when it won't grow much now. 
    Thanks, I'll leave it all until Spring
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited November 2022
    I agree with @Fairygirl , except that here (further south with much less rain and well-drained soil) I would give it a light trim as soon as it looks tall enough and well-enough established, in a dry mild spell (@Fairygirl probably doesn't get those in autumn/winter). When you do mow for the first time, make sure the blades are nice and sharp so they cut cleanly rather than tearing or pulling.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • In recent years I have cut my established lawn in December if not too wet.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I've been known to cut mine in the Christmas holidays.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    We'd normally not be cutting grass beyond end of September, although it's been so mild, I gave mine a trim last week as there was some growth. It was soaking, but I decided it didn't matter too much, and better than it looking manky over winter. 
    I'm not too fussy about my grass though, which helps! As long as it's green, and reasonably tidy for the next few months, I'm happy.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • You can mow a newly sown lawn when the grass is about 7-8cm long.  This will encourage the grass to grow more shoots from the base thickening up the lawn.


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